The Supreme Court building on Constitution Avenue, Islamabad

The Supreme Court of Pakistan is the highest and apex court in the judicial hierarchy of Pakistan.[1] Its judicial membership currently composed of the Chief Justice of Pakistan and fifteen senior justices, also consisting the ad hoc appointments of the Shariat Appellate.[2] Advisement for nomination and necessary consultation from the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the President of Pakistan appointed the justices.[3][4][5]

The Supreme Court was restructured in its modern form in 1956 by the Part VIII of the Constitution, which stipulates that the "judicial power of Pakistan, shall be vested in one supreme Court" together with any lower courts Congress may establish.[6] Article 185(1) further specified the Court's original and appellate jurisdiction, created four judicial high courts, and a system of entering an appeal against punishment rendered by the high courts.[7] The Constitution allows the Parliament to determine the fixed number of the justices, or in special cases such as when the parliamentary recess, the Constitution allows a constitutional right to fix the number of the judges.[8]

Justices of the Supreme Court serve in the office until they attain the age of sixty-five years, unless they resign sooner or are removed from the office in accordance with the Constitution.[9] This article focuses on the appointed justices of the Supreme Court from 1947 to the present.

List of justices

Senior justices of the Supreme Court of Pakistan from 1947–present
Listed senior justices Previous high courts Active service tenured dates
(dd//mm//yyyy)		 Appointed by Termination due Notes
Sir Abdul Rashid Lahore HC 27 Jun 1949–29 Jun 1954 Jinnah Retired 1st Chief Justice of Pakistan
Abdul Rehman Sindh HC 7 Feb 1950–4 Oct 1953 Nazimuddin Retired
A.S.M. Akram Dhaka HC 15 Feb 1950–27 Feb 1956 Nazimuddin Retired
Muhammad Sharif Lahore HC 17 May 1950 – 23 May 1950
13 Apr 1954–1 Apr 1958		 Nazimuddin Retired Appointment as Acting Judge
Muhammad Munir Lahore HC 1 Oct 1951–2 May 1960 Nazimuddin Retired Appointed 2nd Chief Justice of Pakistan
Muhammad Shahabuddin Dhaka HC 6 Oct 1952–23 Dec 1952
6 Feb 1953–7 Jun 1953
4 Oct 1953–12 May 1960		 Nazimuddin
Muhammad
Mirza		 Retired Appointed 3rd Chief Justice of Pakistan
Alvin R. Cornelius Lahore HC 22 Nov 1951–9 Jun 1952
17 Oct 1952–31 May 1953
10 Oct 1953–29 Feb 1968		 Muhammad
Mirza
Khan		 Retired Appointed 4th Chief Justice of Pakistan
S.A. Rehman Lahore HC 2 Mar 1955–23 May 1955
2 Apr 1958–3 Jun 1968
 Muhammad
Mirza		 Retired Appointed 5th Chief Justice of Pakistan
Amiruddin Ahmad Peshawar HC 12 Mar 1956–21 Dec 1960 Mirza Retired
Fazal Akbar Dhaka HC 18 May 1960–17 Nov 1968 Khan Retired Appointed 6th Chief Justice of Pakistan
Badi-uz-Zaman Kaikaus Peshawar HC 25 Jul 1960–3 Jan 1966 Khan Retired
Hamoodur Rahman Dhaka HC 22 Dec 1960–31 Dec 1971
31 Dec 1971–31 Oct 1975
 Khan
Bhutto		 Death Appointed 7th Chief Justice of Pakistan
Yacob Ali Lahore HC 4 Jan 1966–22 Sept 1977 Khan Retired Appointed 8th Chief Justice of Pakistan
Sajjad Ahmad Jan Quetta HC 18 Mar 1968–31 Mar 1973 Khan Retired Appointed Chief election commissioner in 1977
Abdus Sattar Dhaka HC 4 Jun 1968–28 Feb 1971 Khan Retired Appointed Chief election commissioner in 1970
Mujibur Rahman Khan Peshawar HC 18 Nov 1968–23 Nov 1971 Khan Retired
Waheeduddin Ahmad Sindh HC 22 Sept 1969–20 Sept 1974
23 May 1977 – 6 Feb 1979
 Y. Khan
Bhutto		 Retired
Appointment as Ad hoc Justice
Salahuddin Ahmed Sindh HC 4 Dec 1970–28 Feb 1971
1 Mar 1971–31 Dec 1976
 Y. Khan
Bhutto		 Retired
S. Anwar-ul-Haq Lahore HC 16 Oct 1972–25 Mar 1981 Bhutto Retired Appointed 9th Chief Justice of Pakistan
Muhammad Gul Lahore HC 14 Apr 1973–31 Dec 1976 Bhutto Retired
Mohammad Afzal Cheema Lahore HC 8 Oct 1974–31 Dec 1977 Chaudhry Retired
A.K. Shaikh Sindh HC 8 Oct 1974–23 Jan 1975
1 Jul 1979–24 Mar 1991		 Chaudhry
Zia		 Retired
Malik Muhammad Akram Lahore HC 26 Dec 1975–1 Oct 1979 Chaudhry Retired
Dorab Patel Sindh HC 7 Jan 1976–25 Mar 1981 Chaudhry PCO 1981 Seek Retirement after 1981 PCO
Mohammad Haleem Sindh HC 7 Jan 1977–31 Dec 1989 Chaudhry Retired Appointed 10th Chief Justice of Pakistan
Qaisar Khan Quetta HC 7 Jan 1977–30 July 1978 Chaudhry Retired
G.S. Shah Lahore HC 10 Oct 1977–16 Oct 1980 Chaudhry Retired
Karam Chauhan Lahore HC 27 Apr 1978–13 Jun 1979
14 Jun 1979–4 Feb 1982
 Chaudhry
Zia-ul-Haq		 Retired Appointment as Ad hoc Justice
Oath after 1981 PCO
Aslam Riaz Hussain Lahore HC 12 Jan 1978–23 Aug 1988
 Chaudhry
 Retired Served as acting Chief Justice of Pakistan on many occasions from 1979 to 1988.
Azfal Zullah Quetta HC 14 Jun 1979–18 Apr 1993
 Chaudhry Retired Appointed 11th Chief Justice of Pakistan
N.H. Shah Lahore HC 18 May 1977–14 Jun 1979
14 Jun 1979–14 Apr 1994		 Chaudhry
Zia-ul-Haq		 Retired Appointed 12th Chief Justice of Pakistan
Shafi-ur-Rahman Lahore HC 14 Jun 1979–29 Jul 1981
31 Jul 1981 –15 Feb 1994		 Chaudhry
Zia-ul-Haq		 Retired
M.M. Hussain Lahore HC 2 Jun 1980–25 Mar 1981 Zia-ul-Haq Retired Appointment as Ad hoc Justice
Asked to retired
Fakhruddin Ebrahim Sindh HC 17 Jun 1980–25 Mar 1981 Zia-ul-Haq PCO 1981 Seek Retirement after 1981 PCO
Shahnawaz Khan Peshawar HC 5 Apr 1981–1 Jul 1982 Zia-ul-Haq Retired
S.A. Nusrat Sindh HC 4 Aug 1981–30 Apr 1989 Zia-ul-Haq Retired
Zafar Hussain Mirza Sindh HC 4 Aug 1981–9 Oct 1991 Zia-ul-Haq Retired
M.S.H. Quraishi Quetta HC 30 July 1981–30 Sept 1985 Zia-ul-Haq Retired Appointment as Ad hoc Justice
Burhanuddin Khan Peshawar HC 2 Mar 1982–17 Dec 1987 Zia-ul-Haq Retired Appointment as acting Justice
A.H. Qazilbash Peshawar HC 17 Apr 1986–14 Sept 1991 Zia-ul-Haq Retired Appointment as acting Justice
Javid Iqbal Lahore HC 5 Oct 1986–4 Oct 1989 Zia-ul-Haq Retired
S.S. Jan Quetta HC 5 Oct 1986–30 Jun 1996 Zia-ul-Haq Retired Appointment as Ad hoc Justice
G.M. Mirza Sindh HC 25 Mar 1987–31 Mar 1990 Zia-ul-Haq Retired
S.U.A. Shah Sindh HC 8 Dec 1987–1 Sept 1988 Zia-ul-Haq Retired Appointment as Ad hoc Justice
Naimuddin Quetta HC 4 Sept 1988–9 Nov 1991 G. Khan Retired
A.S. Salam Peshawar HC 13 Dec 1988–31 Mar 1993 G. Khan Retired
A.Q. Chaudhry Lahore HC 13 Dec 1989–12 Jul 1994 G. Khan Retired
Ajmal Mian Sindh HC 13 Dec 1989–30 Jul 1999 G. Khan Retired Appointed 14th Chief Justice of Pakistan
R.S. Sidwa Sindh HC 13 Dec 1989–31 Aug 1992 G. Khan Retired
A.H. Memon Sindh HC 14 Dec 1989–8 Oct 1990 G. Khan Retired Appointment as acting Justice
M.A. Lone Lahore HC 13 Aug 1990–3 July 1993 G. Khan Retired
Syed Sajjad Ali Shah Sindh HC 5 Nov 1990–16 Feb 1998 G. Khan Retired Appointed 13th Chief Justice of Pakistan
Rafiq Tarar Lahore HC 17 Jan 1991–1 Nov 1994 G. Khan Retired Elevated as President of Pakistan
Saleem Akhter Sindh HC 25 Mar 1991–22 Mar 1997 G. Khan Retired
Wali Moh'd Khan Peshawar HC 28 Oct 1991–31 Oct 1994 G. Khan Retired Appointment as acting Justice
Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui Sindh HC 21 May 1992–26 Jan 2000 G. Khan PCO 2000 Appointed 15th Chief Justice of Pakistan
F.I. Khan Peshawar HC 3 April 1993–31 Dec 1997 G. Khan Retired
M.H. Sial Lahore HC 7 Jun 1993–17 Oct 1994
19 Oct 1994–20 Apr 1997		 G. Khan
Leghari		 Retired Appointment as acting Justice
Fazal Karim Lahore HC 7 Oct 1994–31 Jul 1996 Retired Appointment as acting Justice
Munir Khan Quetta HC 7 Aug 1994–6 Aug 1996 Leghari Retired Appointment as acting Justice
Muhammad Ilyhas Peshawar HC 19 Oct 1994–30 Sept 1996 Leghari Retired Appointment as acting Justice
Mir Hazar Khoso Quetta HC 30 Sept 1994–29 Sept 1996 Leghari Retired Elevated as Prime Minister (2013)
Mamoon Kazi Lahore HC 22 Feb 1995–26 Jan 2000 Leghari Retired
Mukhtar Ahmed Junejo Sindh HC 19 Oct 1995–19 Feb 2000 Leghari Retired
Afrasiab Khan Peshawar HC 22 Feb 1995–14 Jan 2000 Leghari Retired
N.A. Zahid Sindh HC 18 Apr 1996–26 Jan 2000 Leghari Retired Appointment as Ad-hoc Justice
Munavar Mirza Sindh HC 17 Nov 1996–24 Nov 1999 Leghari Retired
Khalil-ur-Rehman Lahore HC 17 Dec 1996–26 Jan 2000 Leghari Retired
Ijaz Nisar Peshawar HC 29 May 1997–15 Jun 2000 Leghari Retired
Riaz Ahmad Lahore HC 4 Nov 1997–31 Dec 2003 Leghari Retired Appointed 18th Chief Justice of Pakistan
Wajihuddin Ahmed Sindh HC 5 May 1998–26 Jan 2000 Tarar Retired
Irshaq Hussain Lahore HC 4 Nov 1998–6 Jan 2002 Tarar Retired Appointed 16th Chief Justice of Pakistan
Bashir Jehangiri Peshawar HC 4 Nov 1998–31 Jan 2002 Tarar Retired Appointed 17th Chief Justice of Pakistan
Rashid Khan Peshawar HC 24 Apr 1999–26 Jan 2000 Tarar Retired
Abdur Rehman Khan Peshawar HC 4 Nov 1998–5 Sept 2001 Tarar Retired Appointed Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan (Brief Period)
Muhammad Arif Lahore HC 4 Nov 1998–2 Jan 2002 Tarar Retired
Kamal Allam Peshawar HC 22 Apr 1999–26 Jan 2000 Tarar Retired
Nazim Hussain Siddiqui Sindh HC 4 Feb 2000–29 Jun 2005 Tarar Retired Appointed 19th Chief Justice of Pakistan
Qazi Moh'd Faruk Lahore HC 4 Feb 2000–31 Dec 2003 Tarar Retired
T.A. Khan Peshawar HC 27 Feb 2000–16 Jan 2004 Tarar Retired
M.M. Ajmal Quetta HC 28 Apr 2000–14 Aug 2004 Tarar Retired
Deedar Hussian Quetta HC 28 Apr 2000–10 Dec 2004 Tarar Retired
Hamid Mirza Sindh HC 28 Apr 2000–14 Sept 2004
14 Sept 2004–13 Sept 2005		 Tarar
Musharraf		 Retired Appointed Chief Election Commissioner
K.N. Bhandari Quetta HC 7 Sept 2000–13 Sept 2006 Tarar Retired Appointment as Ad-hoc Justice
Iftikhar Chaudhry Quetta HC 4 Feb 2000–11 Dec 2013 Tarar Retired Appointed 20th Chief Justice
Rana Bhagwandas Sindh HC 4 Feb 2000–19 Dec 2008 Tarar 2007 PCO
Javaid Iqbal Quetta HC 28 Apr 2000–24 Mar 2011 Tarar Retired
A.H. Dogar Sindh HC 28 Apr 2000–21 Mar 2009 Tarar Retired
Raza Khan Peshawar HC 10 Jan 2002– 09 Feb 2010 Musharraf Retired
Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday Sindh HC 10 Jan 2002–13 Jan 2010 Musharraf Retired
Nawaz Abbasi Lahore HC 10 Jan 2002–6 Jan 2008 Musharraf Retired
Faqir Muhammad Lahore HC 10 Jan 2002–5 Aug 2008 Musharraf Retired
Falak Sher Lahore HC 7 Sept 2002–21 Sept 2008 Musharraf Retired
Shakirullah Jan Peshawar HC 29 Jul 2004– 17 Aug 2012 Musharraf Retired
Javaid Buttar Lahore HC 29 Jul 2004–5 Aug 2009 Musharraf Retired
Tassaduq H. Jillani Lahore HC 12 December 2003 – 5 July 2014 Musharraf Retired Appointed 21st Chief Justice (2014)
S.S. Ashad Sindh HC 5 Apr 2005–7 Oct 2008 Musharraf Retired -
Nasir-ul-Mulk Peshawar HC 5 Apr 2005–17 Aug 2015 Musharraf Retired Appointed 22nd Chief Justice and Elevated as Prime Minister of Pakistan
Fayyaz Ahmad Lahore HC 14 Sept 2005–13 Jan 2012 Musharraf Retired -
Ijaz Ahmad Lahore HC 14 Sept 2005–13 Jan 2013 Musharraf Retired
Jamshed Ali Lahore HC 14 Sept 2005–30 Sept 2008 Musharraf Retired
Ghulam Rabbani Sindh High Court 14 Sept 2006–30 Sept 2008
12 Apr 2009–5 Nov 2013		 Musharraf
Zardari		 Retired
Appointment as ad-hoc Justice
Qaim Jan Peshawar HC 6 Nov 2007–31 Jul 2009 Musharraf Retired
Ijaz-ul-Hassan Peshawar HC 6 Nov 2007–31 Jul 2009 Musharraf Retired
Zahid Hussain Lahore HC 12 Apr 2009– 25 Feb 2011 Zardari Retired
Muhammad Sair Ali Lahore HC 12 Apr 2009–09 Dec 2011 Zardari Retired
M.A. Shahid Siddiqui Lahore HC 12 Apr 2009– 13 Oct 2011 Zardari Retired
Jawad Khawaja Lahore HC 4 Jun 2009–19 Oct 2015 Zardari Retired Appointed 23rd Chief Justice
Anwar Zaheer Jamali Sindh HC 3 Aug 2009–30 Dec 2016 Zardari Retired Appointed 24th Chief Justice
Arif Hussain Sindh HC 7 Sept 2009–4 Apr 2014 Zardari Retired
Rehmat Hussain Jaffery Sindh HC 7 Sept 2009–4 Apr 2014 Zardari Retired
Tariq Pervez Khan Peshawar HC 21 Oct 2009– 13 Feb 2013 Zardari Retired Appointed Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Mian Saqib Nisar Lahore HC 18 Feb 2010– 17 Jan 2019 Zardari Retired Appointed 25th Chief Justice
Asif Saeed Khosa Lahore HC 18 Feb 2010– Zardari Retired Appointed 26th Chief Justice
Sarmad Jalal Osmany Sindh HC 18 Feb 2010–24 May 2022 Zardari Retired
Amir Hani Muslim Sindh HC 14 Feb 2011–4 Jan 2017 Zardari Retired
Muhammad Athar Saeed Sindh HC 15 Nov 2011–28 Sep 2014 Hussain Retired
Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry Lahore HC 17 Nov 2011 – 15 Dec 2015 Zardari Retired
Gulzar Ahmed Quetta HC 17 Nov 2011 – 28 Sept 2014 Zardari Retired Appointed 27th Chief Justice
Sheikh Azmat Saeed Lahore HC 6 Jan 2012 – 27 Aug 2019 Zardari Retired
Iqbal Hameed-ur-Rahman Islamabad HC 25 Feb 2013 – 25 Sept 2022 Zardari Retired
Mushir Alam Sindh HC 20 Sept 2013 – 18 Aug 2021 Hussain Retired
Umar Ata Bandial Lahore HC 20 Sept 2013 – 18 Aug 2021 Hussain Retired Appointed 28th Chief Justice[10]
Qazi Faez Isa Quetta HC 05 Sep 2014 – 25 Oct 2024 Zardari Active Service Chief Justice of Pakistan[11]
Maqbool Baqar Sindh HC 17 Feb 2015 – 04 Apr 2022 Hussain Retired
Manzoor Ahmad Malik Lahore HC 06 Nov 2015 – 30 Apr 2021 Hussain Retired
Sardar Tariq Masood Lahore HC 06 Nov 2015 – 10 March 2024 Hussain Active Service
Faisal Arab Sindh HC 13 Dec 2015 – 04 Nov 2020 Hussain Retired
Ijazul Ahsan Lahore HC 28 Jun 2016 – 11 Jan 2024 Hussain Resigned resigned.
Mazhar Alam Miankhel Peshawar HC 30 Dec 2016 – 13 Jul 2022 Hussain Retired
Sajjad Ali Shah Sindh HC 15 Mar 2017 – 13 Aug 2022 Hussain Retired
Mansoor Ali Shah Lahore HC 07 Feb 2018 – 27 Nov 2027 Hussain Active Service To become 30th Chief Justice
Munib Akhtar Sindh HC 8 May 2018 – 13 Dec 2028 Hussain Active service To become 31st Chief Justice
Yahya Afridi Peshawar HC 28 Jun 2018 – 22 Jan 2030 Hussain Active service To become 32nd Chief Justice
Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed Lahore HC 24 Apr 2019 – 25 Mar 2022 Alvi Retired
Aminuddin Khan Lahore HC 21 Oct 2019 – 30 Nov 2025 Alvi Active Service
Sayyed Muhammad Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi Lahore HC 16 Mar 2020 – 10 Jan 2024 (removed) Alvi Resigned[12] will be considered as a removed Judge[13] A reference was being heard against him in the Supreme Judicial Council on allegations of (financial) misconduct, before the SJC came to a conclusion, he resigned. The SJC has decided to continue hearing the reference despite his resignation.[14]

On 7 March 2024, the Supreme Judicial Council of Pakistan opinioned that Naqvi was guilty of misconduct and should have been removed as a Judge.[15]

Jamal Khan Mandokhail Balochistan HC 09 Aug 2021 – 11 Nov 2026 Alvi Active Service
Muhammad Ali Mazhar Sindh HC 16 Aug 2021 – 04 Oct 2029 Alvi Active Service
Ayesha A. Malik Lahore HC 6 Jan 2022 – 2 Jun 2031 Alvi Active Service To become 33rd Chief Justice
Athar Minallah Islamabad HC 11 Nov 2022 – 12 Dec 2026 Alvi Active Service
Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi Sindh HC 11 Nov 2022 – 1 Feb 2027 Alvi Active Service
Shahid Waheed Lahore HC 11 Nov 2022 – 24 Dec 2031 Alvi Active Service To become 34th Chief Justice
Mussarat Hilali Peshawar HC 07 Jul 2023 – 08 Aug 2025 Alvi Active Service
Irfan Saadat Khan Sindh HC 03 Sept 2023 – 07 Feb 2027 Alvi Active Service

Appointments after 2001 state emergency

Senior justices of the Supreme Court of Pakistan after 2007
Listed senior justices Previous high courts Active service tenured dates
(dd//mm//yyyy)		 Appointed by Termination Notes
Musa Leghari Quetta HC 6 Nov 2007–31 Jul 2009 Musharraf Void
Ejaz Yousaf Sindh HC 6 Nov 2007–31 Jul 2009 Musharraf Void
Akhtar Shabbir Lahore HC 13 Nov 2007–8 Jun 2009 Musharraf Void
Zia Pervez Sindh HC 13 Nov 2007–31 Jul 2009 Musharraf Void
Hamid Farooq Lahore HC 10 Dec 2007–31 Jul 2009 Musharraf Void
Syed Sakhi Hussain Bokhari Lahore HC 10 Dec 2007–31 Jul 2009 Musharraf Void
Zawvar Jaffery Lahore HC 10 Dec 2007–31 Jul 2009 Musharraf |Void
Syed Sakhi Hussain Bokhari Sindh HC 10 Dec 2007–31 Jul 2009 Musharraf Void
Sheikh Hakim Ali Lahore HC 8 Feb 2008–31 Jul 2009 Musharraf Void
Muhammad Furrukh Mahmud Lahore HC 8 Feb 2008–31 Jul 2009 Musharraf Void
Sabihuddin Ahmed Sindh HC 19 Sept 2008–9 Apr 2009 Musharraf Death
Muhammad Aslam Islamabad HC 7 Mar 2008–31 Jul 2009 Musharraf Void

References

  1. ^ Article 176(1) of the Constitution of Pakistan
  2. ^ "Hon'ble Judges". Govt. Pakistan. Supreme Court of Pakistan, Press release. Archived from the original on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  3. ^ "ARTICLE 175 (A) APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES". Govt. Pakistan. Supreme Court of Pakistan Press. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  4. ^ "President appoints judges of Supreme Court, Islamabad High Court". Dawn. Associated Press of Pakistan. 2011-11-15. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  5. ^ "Lahore High Court: President appoints six additional judges". The Express Tribune. 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  6. ^ Article 184(1) of the Constitution
  7. ^ Article 185(1) of the Constitution
  8. ^ Article 176 of the Constitution
  9. ^ Article 179(a) of the Constitution
  10. ^ "Justice Umar Ata Bandial sworn in as 28th Chief Justice of Pakistan". Dawn. 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  11. ^ "Justice Qazi Faez Isa sworn in as 29th chief justice of Pakistan". Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  12. ^ "President Alvi accepts resignation of SC's Justice Naqvi". Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  13. ^ Bhatti, Haseeb (2024-03-07). "Ex-SC judge Mazahar Naqvi 'guilty of misconduct', should've been sacked: Supreme Judicial Council". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  14. ^ "Justice Naqvi still in Supreme Judicial Council dock despite resignation". Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  15. ^ "SJC finds Justice Naqvi guilty of misconduct". The Express Tribune. 2024-03-07. Retrieved 2024-03-07.

External links

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